The Pearl of the Adriatic

22.8.15

Last night we left the bar up the road when the live entertainment started. We were quite excited when we saw a bit of entertainment advertised on their board.

There was only about 6 of us in the bar and felt a bit guilty but we can’t bear the sound of accordions. We stayed as long as we could but also it had been a long day.
We didn’t watch any of the television programmes we’d downloaded, so tired and just crashed out.

Up early this morning and nervously went for breakfast, it was pleasant enough.
It was pretty cloudy and we were desperate for it not to rain.
John bought 2 one day Dubrovnik cards from the hotel receptionist and I told him the internet doesn’t work and he told me it does.

The card gives unlimited public transport travel, city walls and 7 other museums/ art galleries for 150 kn, £15.00.The city walls alone are 100 kn.

By the time we arrived the sun was shining.
We started with the walls.
Its about 2 km all the way around, steep steps in parts and the most incredible views of the town and the sea around it.
Really breathtaking and as amazing as we had hoped it would be.
The weather couldn’t have been more perfect, not too hot and a little breeze, it would be a real challenge if it was too hot.

I took around 100 photos so have way too many to add to the blog but here’s a couple of favourites.

After this fabulous experience we found some of the other attractions included in our ticket.
We saw the Maritime Museum with its’ interesting stories of how the fortunes of the city changed over the years and artifacts from the ships, maps etc.

Next was the Natural History Museum. Anyone who’s has visited the one in London should look away now….
We were imagining Croatian dinosaur bones and went in very expectantly.
We got molluscs. Loads of them in plastic baubles.

Stuffed birds..

Photos of squid

A huge stuffed turtle

And a fish head.

Next was the Dulcic Masle Pulitika Gallery…. A corridor of almost childlike paintings which made me feel I should carry on with my art classes as maybe I stand a chance of getting my own exhibition.
Suddenly round a corner this made us jump out our skins!

We visited the Rectors Palace, several rooms of grand furniture, family portraits and some beautiful paintings of Christ’s baptism, and other religious paintings.
Downstairs in a series of rooms that was easy to miss was an exhibition of photos from the Homelands war in 1991. Terribly sad photos of damage sustained by Dubrovnik.

It’s incredible how the city has been restored and how there is little or no reference to it, very different to Bosnia where there are many scars to be seen and references in many places, even souvenirs made from bullets.

The main theme currently is Game of Thrones which was mostly been filmed in Dubrovnik although seeing so many tourists you wonder how.
There are Game of Thrones walking tours but at around £60 each it wasn’t something we were prepared to do. (I’ve never watched a full episode!)

We sat and had much needed beer, coffee and ice cream ( Milka white, dark and hazelnut – amazing, and raspberry panacotta for John ) in one of the many lovely cafes.
Some of the sea food dishes being served looked amazing and very good value given the beautiful setting in such an amazing city.
John bought us both Dubrovnik souvenir t-shirts, not matching ones !

We decided we had enough culture and it was quite crowded so got on a bus to a shopping area.
After walking a little way we realised we weren’t far away from where the boat brought us in yesterday.
The shopping ‘malls’ were surprisingly non descript with very little in either of the 2 that were close by.
We stopped for coffee and beer near the beautiful harbour and set off to find another shopping mall close by which we couldn’t find but spotted a Tommy hypermarket with a sign for Takko Fashion. That was a must see and was a great shop!
I bought 2 lightweight cardis and John bought jeans, tracky bottoms and a t shirt.

We had to get the bus back to the old town and a number 4 out again. We certainly made good use of our included bus travel.

We got back just as our beautiful atmospheric restaurant opened and were really hungry.
In the buffet today…
Salads, fish, chicken, pork casserole, liver, potato croquettes, courgettes in batter, vegetable lasagna, packet mash, rice, bulgur wheat, boiled potatoes and soup.
3 different cakes, chocolate blancmange and fresh fruit.
Plenty of choice and mostly pretty tasty.

After dinner we wandered down to the sea side behind the ‘Adriatic Hotel’ restaurant (which seems to belong to Maestral Hotel and is on the other side of the road). Maestral 18 is our password for the internet. It doesn’t work. Not in the ‘hotel’, not in our horrible room, not outside the Maestral and not in the Maestral restaurant.

We found a beach side cafe. It had the word Adriatic on it….jeez…they seem to own the whole street. Determined not to give them any more kuna than we have to, we walked up the road to last nights bar, no accordion tonight.
Caught up online, posted last nights’ blog post and uploaded 140 Dubrovnik photos!

Its been another very full day. I’m sure holidays are supposed to be relaxing.
We’re so tired, but no chance of sleeping as at 10.40 pm loud music started somewhere in the vicinity.
Must be Adriatic, Maestral or similar as it’s awful. At least last nights double bass was monotonal and easy to sleep to.

Observations

None today.
Instead a list of Adriatic rooms faults :

Can’t open the bedside drawer without the knob falling off.
Shower curtain ripped but tied to a curtain hook.
The sea view we booked is obscured by trees. Might have been there 5 years or so ago.
Lamp didn’t work but Johns fixed it
Nowhere to hang shower head
Water runs from the tap part as well as shower head so no pressure.
Stinky men smoking and playing cards for money in the room next to the 1970’s style reception all afternoon and evening, still sitting there this morning, although not tonight as the Police are lurking around. One poor officer seems to be staying on our floor.
Mouldy grout and stained shower tray
Communal staircase walls mouldy
Awful music playing too late and too loud. Was still going on after 1 am.
Awful yellow and blue rooms.
Double bed requested is 2 singles with big wooden frames so a really large uncomfy gap.
Soulless restaurant across the road, good food but a complimentary jug of water or a coffee would be a nice touch.
No lift so you have the problem of being woken up by the sound of people bouncing their cases down the stairs.
This morning there seems to be a party of 7 doing it. Correction, make that 9, been going on for 35 minutes now.

Oh and the wifi doesn’t work, did I mention that ?